Windmill



(No Model.)

H. WOODMANSE.

WINDMILL.

No. 334,553. Patented Jan. 19, 1886.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY 'NITED STATES HARRISON WOODMANSE,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS.

WINDMILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,553, dated January 19, 1886.

Application filed November 13, 1885. Serial No. 182,689. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRISON WOODMANSE, a resident of Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Windmills; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in windmills, and more specifically to improvements in means for regulating the motion of the wind-wheel under varying wind force.

In this specification reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the central portion of windmill. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section, partly in plan, of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1, section being made on the line at y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows the device for retaining and adjusting the upper end of the spring shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a top view of the same device, section being made on the line w. 3 Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, A is a plate or cap resting on anti-friction balls moving in a groove in the top plate of the tower, which is shown by the dotted lines in the figure.

B is a frame formed integrally with the plate A, or rigidly connected therewith,=and, in connection with the plate A, serves to support the wind-wheel shaft 0 and vanecasting D, with all their accessories and attachments shown in the figure.

O is the wind-wheel shaft,bearing the crankplate Q, and S is a brake-lever hinged to the main frame B, and carrying the shoe R, which is pressed against the periphery of the crankplate by the striking of the lug G upon the vane-casting against said brake-lever when the wind-wheel swings out of the wind, or, in other Words, when the shaft 0 reaches a position approximately at right angles to the vane.

From the top and bottom, respectively, of the frame A B project ears N and K, and between these work two ears, V V, respectively, near the top and bottom of the vane-casting D, and formed integrally therewith. Through these four ears a pintle, J, passes, and thus a hinge-joint connection is formed between the Vane and frame B A. Upon this pintle two sleeves, E E, Figs. 1 and 2, are placed, to form an anti-friction bearing for the coiled spring F, which has its ends attached, respectively, to the vane-casting D and frame A B.

From the frame A B projects a stiffeningweb, 0, which aids in retaining the end H of the spring F, and also serves as a stop for the lug I upon the vane. This lug and stop fix the minimum angle between the wind-wheel shaft and the vane when either moves with reference to the other upon the pintle J.

A projection, B, upon the frame B A, Fig. 2, acts as a stop for the lug 1) upon the vane,

and prevents the lessening of the normal an gle of the vane and wind-wheel shaft upon that side of the vertical plane of the vane.

To adjust the tension upon the spring F, its lower end is retained by a hook or eye, a, Fig. 2, upon the bolt U, passing horizontally through the vane-casting D, and a nut upon this bolt draws the spring-arm II against the Vane-casting, or allows the elasticity of the spring to hold it at any desired distance therefrom. To further regulate the tension of the spring, means shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4 are employed. As shown in Fig. l, the end H of the spring lies just below the projecting top B of the frame A B in the angle formed by this top, the side Bof the main frame, and the web 0. Fig. 3 shows this angle seen in the direction of the arrow n in Fig. 1. Asetscrew, 0, passes through the web 0, and presses against the arm H, which is kept in its horizontal plane by the projecting top B of the frame above, and aretaining-piece, M, rigidly attached to the side B of the frame. Fig. 4 shows the relative position of most of these parts, as seen from above, section being made on the line acy. By these devices I obtain a range of adjustability sufficient to permit all the tension ever required, to compensate for unavoidable differences in different springs,

ratio of increase in such resistance at successive points in the angular displacement of the Wind-wheel shaft with reference to the vane.

Having now described my invention,whatI claim is- 1. In a windmill, a vane whose plane is normally approximately parallel to the direction of the wind, combined with awind-wheelsupporting frame, said vane and said frame being connected by a hinge allowing horizontal angular displacement of either with refer ence to the other, a spring adapted to resist while permitting such displacement, and means whereby the resistance of the spring may be varied as desired.

2. In a windmill, a casting in which the wind-whee1 shaft is journaled, a casting to which the vane is rigidly attached, a spring whose ends are respectively attached to said castings, and means whereby tension may be applied to said spring at either or both extremities thereof, combined substantially as set forth.

3. Ina windmill, a casting pivoted in the vertical axis of the mill, and bearing the wind-wheel shaft, a second casting pivoted in the first and bearing the vane, one or more stops allowing angular displacement of said castings with reference to each other about the vane-pivot in one direction, but preventing such displacement in a contrary direction, a spring whose ends are attached, respectively, to said castings, said spring adapted to be flexed by such displacement, and by its elasticity to force said castings into their normal position when the displacing force is diminished, and means whereby said spring may be made to resist such displacement with any desired force.

4. In a windmill, the combination of a windwheel-supporting casting pivoted on the vertical axis of the mill, a vane-casting connected with said wheel-supporting casting by a vertical hinge-joint, a stop or stops adapted to permit rotation of the castings about said hinge-joint with reference to each other in one direction, but not in the opposite direction, two independent sleeves, one above the other, inclosing the pintle of said vertical hingejoint, and a spring coiled about said sleeves,

and having its ends connected with said castings, respectively, and adapted to resist the relative rotation of said castings in the direction permitted by said stop or stops.

5. In a windmill, the combination, with a 

